Curbar Edge - Cloudscapes - Peak District
Multi-layered dramatic clouds for striking sky photography
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What this forecast looks for
Plain-language explanation from the ruleThis forecast identifies when dynamic weather patterns create dramatic skies over the Peak District's elevated moorlands and edges. We track cloud formation, frontal systems, and atmospheric instability to predict when cloudscapes will add compelling drama to compositions featuring the national park's distinctive topography.
The Peak District's position in central northern England means it experiences highly variable weather—Atlantic weather systems cross the region frequently, creating constantly changing cloudscapes. The landscape's elevation range (300m valleys to 636m at Kinder Scout) means photographers can position themselves to use clouds as compositional elements, with higher ground often breaking through lower cloud layers while maintaining dramatic skies above.
What makes Peak District cloudscape photography distinctive:
- Kinder Scout plateau drama - The highest point receives spectacular storm systems, with clouds rolling across the moorland plateau and dramatic clearings after frontal passage
- Chrome Hill exposure - The narrow dragon's back ridge in the White Peak stands isolated, allowing 360-degree cloudscape compositions
- Winnats Pass funneling - The limestone gorge channels weather systems, creating dramatic cloud formations accelerated by the valley's steep walls
- Gritstone edge scale - Stanage and Curbar Edges provide elevated foregrounds beneath dynamic skies, with distant Sheffield visible under clearing systems
Kinder Scout's exposed plateau receives dramatic weather systems—post-frontal clearing produces spectacular light breaking through turbulent skies, illuminating the moorland's peat formations. Chrome Hill's exposed ridge position means clouds often surround the summit, creating atmospheric compositions with the distinctive limestone profile. Winnats Pass becomes dramatic when weather systems roll through the gorge, with clouds accelerating between the limestone cliffs. Mam Tor provides elevated viewpoints where dramatic skies form a backdrop to the Great Ridge extending toward Lose Hill. The most dramatic cloudscapes occur during unsettled weather—autumn and winter frontal systems (October through March) typically produce the most photogenic conditions. Look for clearings after storm systems when broken clouds create spotlighting effects. The forecast helps identify when conditions are dramatic but safe—always be prepared for rapid weather changes on exposed moorland.
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72-hour requirements breakdown
What passed or failed, hour by hourTime Europe/London | Cloud Drama Score ≥ 75.0% | Low Clouds ≥ 20.0% | Mid-Level Clouds OR1·B1≥ 30.0% | High Clouds OR1·B2≥ 40.0% | Visibility ≥ 5000.0m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jun 8 | |||||
| 05:00 | 73% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 5393m |
| 06:00 | 76% | 100% | 100% | 5% | 2889m |
| 07:00 | 69% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 225m |
| 08:00 | 56% | 77% | 100% | 4.1% | 7509m |
| 09:00 | 59% | 99% | 100% | 0.1% | 24135m |
| 10:00 | 50% | 100% | 100% | 97% | 24135m |
| 11:00 | 52% | 68% | 100% | 71% | 24135m |
| 12:00 | 34% | 6% | 100% | 3.7% | 24134m |
| 13:00 | 45% | 75% | 4.5% | 0.1% | 24117m |
| 14:00 | 31% | 95% | 3% | 0% | 19609m |
| 15:00 | 23% | 5.3% | 0% | 0% | 24134m |
| 16:00 | 37% | 16% | 0% | 0% | 24134m |
| 17:00 | 21% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 24135m |
| 18:00 | 16% | 0.1% | 0% | 0% | 24135m |
| 19:00 | 16% | 4.7% | 1.7% | 0% | 24134m |
| 20:00 | 15% | 5% | 0.1% | 0% | 24134m |
| 21:00 | 70% | 39% | 4.8% | 5% | 24134m |
| 22:00 | 60% | 5% | 10% | 5.7% | 24135m |
| 23:00 | 100% | 5% | 76% | 31% | 24134m |
| Tue, Jun 9 | |||||
| 24:00 | 15% | 5% | 100% | 99% | 24135m |
| 01:00 | 13% | 5.1% | 100% | 5.6% | 24135m |
| 02:00 | 14% | 5% | 5.2% | 0% | 24135m |
| 03:00 | 100% | 32% | 53% | 5.3% | 24135m |
| 04:00 | 79% | 34% | 100% | 99% | 24135m |
| 05:00 | 79% | 54% | 100% | 84% | 24134m |
| 06:00 | 100% | 73% | 95% | 15% | 24135m |
| 07:00 | 88% | 8.3% | 45% | 0.1% | 24135m |
| 08:00 | 39% | 7% | 5% | 4.9% | 24135m |
| 09:00 | 59% | 25% | 5% | 5% | 24134m |
| 10:00 | 33% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 24135m |
| 11:00 | 61% | 68% | 5% | 5% | 24135m |
| 12:00 | 53% | 99% | 38% | 0.1% | 24134m |
| 13:00 | 59% | 71% | 83% | 0% | 23488m |
| 14:00 | 74% | 46% | 43% | 0% | 20706m |
| 15:00 | 66% | 50% | 77% | 0% | 16314m |
| 16:00 | 71% | 60% | 68% | 0% | 13264m |
| 17:00 | 23% | 5% | 0.1% | 0% | 24033m |
| 18:00 | 22% | 9.6% | 0.1% | 0% | 23165m |
| 19:00 | 29% | 0.2% | 0% | 5% | 24134m |
| 20:00 | 26% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 24135m |
| 21:00 | 28% | 1.5% | 5% | 5% | 24134m |
| 22:00 | 35% | 0% | 5% | 5.3% | 24134m |
| 23:00 | 58% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 74% | 24134m |
| Wed, Jun 10 | |||||
| 24:00 | 13% | 5% | 93% | 48% | 24134m |
| 01:00 | 7.5% | 5.1% | 100% | 97% | 24135m |
| 02:00 | 1.6% | 8.5% | 100% | 72% | 24134m |
| 03:00 | 64% | 49% | 100% | 5.2% | 24134m |
| 04:00 | 76% | 49% | 96% | 5% | 24134m |
| 05:00 | 81% | 97% | 100% | 5% | 24134m |
| 06:00 | 61% | 5.2% | 92% | 3.3% | 24134m |
| 07:00 | 76% | 9.1% | 29% | 0% | 24134m |
| 08:00 | 33% | 6.8% | 5.3% | 0% | 24134m |
| 09:00 | 60% | 12% | 100% | 0% | 24135m |
| 10:00 | 42% | 85% | 100% | 0% | 24134m |
| 11:00 | 41% | 13% | 100% | 0% | 24134m |
| 12:00 | 47% | 95% | 100% | 0% | 23992m |
| 13:00 | 51% | 27% | 100% | 0% | 24135m |
| 14:00 | 49% | 46% | 5% | 0% | 24134m |
| 15:00 | 45% | 42% | 3.5% | 0% | 24134m |
| 16:00 | 45% | 53% | 0% | 0% | 24135m |
| 17:00 | 26% | 5.2% | 0.1% | 0% | 24134m |
| 18:00 | 26% | 5.1% | 0% | 1.7% | 24135m |
| 19:00 | 18% | 4.9% | 0% | 0% | 24134m |
| 20:00 | 22% | 5% | 0% | 5% | 24135m |
| 21:00 | 29% | 5% | 4.6% | 5% | 24134m |
| 22:00 | 45% | 4.8% | 5% | 84% | 24135m |
| 23:00 | 72% | 1.8% | 6.1% | 59% | 24135m |
| Thu, Jun 11 | |||||
| 24:00 | 15% | 4.9% | 5% | 100% | 24134m |
| 01:00 | 8.2% | 5% | 99% | 100% | 24134m |
| 02:00 | 0% | 37% | 99% | 100% | 24134m |
| 03:00 | 58% | 68% | 98% | 100% | 24135m |
| 04:00 | 67% | 100% | 97% | 100% | 24135m |
| 05:00 | 67% | 100% | 98% | 100% | 19133m |
| 06:00 | 67% | 100% | 99% | 100% | 14131m |
| 07:00 | 62% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 9129m |
| 08:00 | 53% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 9412m |
| 09:00 | 53% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 9696m |
| 10:00 | 43% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 9979m |
| 11:00 | 43% | 86% | 100% | 100% | 14698m |
| 12:00 | 43% | 71% | 100% | 100% | 19416m |
| 13:00 | 47% | 57% | 100% | 100% | 24135m |
What does Cloud Drama Score mean?
Inputs that drive the scoreThis derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.
| Time Europe/London | Air Pressure hPa | High Clouds % | Mid-Level Clouds % | Precipitation Chance % | Relative Humidity % | Solar Elevation ° | Total Cloud Coverage % | Wind Gusts m/s | Wind Speed m/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jun 8
Sunrise 04:41
Sunset 21:30 | |||||||||
| 16:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 56% | 45° | 16% | 8.8m/s | 7.2m/s |
| 17:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 54% | 37° | 5% | 8.8m/s | 7m/s |
| 18:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 57% | 28° | 0% | 8.7m/s | 6.1m/s |
| 19:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 2% | 0% | 65% | 19° | 5% | 7.5m/s | 4.9m/s |
| 20:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 71% | 11° | 5% | 7.2m/s | 4m/s |
| 21:00 | 976hPa | 5% | 5% | 1% | 81% | 3° | 39% | 8.4m/s | 3.5m/s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 976hPa | 6% | 10% | 1% | 80% | -3.8° | 10% | 11m/s | 4.8m/s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 976hPa | 31% | 76% | 1% | 87% | -9.1° | 76% | 10m/s | 4.5m/s |
| Tue, Jun 9
Sunrise 04:41
Sunset 21:30 | |||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 976hPa | 99% | 100% | 0% | 93% | -12° | 100% | 11m/s | 4.5m/s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 976hPa | 6% | 100% | 0% | 94% | -14° | 100% | 12m/s | 4.6m/s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 975hPa | 0% | 5% | 13% | 95% | -13° | 5% | 12m/s | 4.4m/s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 975hPa | 5% | 53% | 27% | 97% | -9.9° | 53% | 12m/s | 4.8m/s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 975hPa | 99% | 100% | 40% | 97% | -4.9° | 100% | 12m/s | 4.9m/s |
| 05:00 | 975hPa | 84% | 100% | 57% | 96% | 1.8° | 100% | 12m/s | 5.2m/s |
| 06:00 | 975hPa | 15% | 95% | 74% | 94% | 9.1° | 95% | 10m/s | 5.4m/s |
| 07:00 | 975hPa | 0% | 45% | 91% | 89% | 17° | 45% | 9.8m/s | 6m/s |
| 08:00 | 975hPa | 5% | 5% | 91% | 80% | 26° | 7% | 9.5m/s | 7.1m/s |
| 09:00 | 975hPa | 5% | 5% | 92% | 79% | 35° | 25% | 9.2m/s | 7.3m/s |
| 10:00 | 975hPa | 5% | 5% | 93% | 69% | 44° | 5% | 9.6m/s | 7.4m/s |
| 11:00 | 975hPa | 5% | 5% | 92% | 60% | 51° | 68% | 10m/s | 7.7m/s |
| 12:00 | 975hPa | 0% | 38% | 92% | 67% | 57° | 99% | 11m/s | 8.1m/s |
| 13:00 | 975hPa | 0% | 83% | 92% | 68% | 60° | 83% | 11m/s | 7.7m/s |
| 14:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 43% | 61% | 72% | 58° | 47% | 11m/s | 7.4m/s |
| 15:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 77% | 31% | 72% | 53° | 77% | 12m/s | 8.8m/s |
| 16:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 68% | 0% | 78% | 45° | 69% | 12m/s | 8.8m/s |
| 17:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 79% | 37° | 5% | 12m/s | 8.2m/s |
| 18:00 | 976hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 79% | 28° | 10% | 12m/s | 7.7m/s |
| 19:00 | 976hPa | 5% | 0% | 0% | 79% | 19° | 5% | 12m/s | 7.2m/s |
| 20:00 | 976hPa | 5% | 5% | 0% | 80% | 11° | 5% | 11m/s | 6.7m/s |
| 21:00 | 976hPa | 5% | 5% | 0% | 84% | 3.1° | 5% | 12m/s | 5.9m/s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 5% | 5% | 0% | 91% | -3.7° | 5% | 11m/s | 4.3m/s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 74% | 5% | 17% | 94% | -9° | 74% | 10m/s | 3.8m/s |
| Wed, Jun 10
Sunrise 04:40
Sunset 21:31 | |||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 48% | 93% | 33% | 94% | -12° | 93% | 9.9m/s | 3.6m/s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 97% | 100% | 50% | 93% | -14° | 100% | 9.3m/s | 3.3m/s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 72% | 100% | 61% | 90% | -13° | 100% | 9.4m/s | 3.6m/s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 5% | 100% | 72% | 89% | -9.8° | 100% | 11m/s | 4.6m/s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 977hPa | 5% | 96% | 84% | 91% | -4.9° | 96% | 11m/s | 5.2m/s |
| 05:00 | 977hPa | 5% | 100% | 88% | 94% | 1.8° | 100% | 9.1m/s | 3.5m/s |
| 06:00 | 977hPa | 3% | 92% | 93% | 88% | 9.1° | 92% | 8.9m/s | 3.7m/s |
| 07:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 29% | 97% | 88% | 17° | 29% | 9.1m/s | 5.2m/s |
| 08:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 5% | 90% | 80% | 26° | 7% | 9m/s | 5.9m/s |
| 09:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 100% | 83% | 76% | 35° | 100% | 8.7m/s | 6.6m/s |
| 10:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 100% | 76% | 73% | 44° | 100% | 8.8m/s | 6.7m/s |
| 11:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 100% | 77% | 71% | 52° | 100% | 8.6m/s | 6.5m/s |
| 12:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 100% | 78% | 64% | 57° | 100% | 9.2m/s | 6.6m/s |
| 13:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 100% | 79% | 72% | 60° | 100% | 9.1m/s | 6.9m/s |
| 14:00 | 978hPa | 0% | 5% | 53% | 60% | 58° | 46% | 10m/s | 8.1m/s |
| 15:00 | 979hPa | 0% | 4% | 26% | 60% | 53° | 42% | 11m/s | 8.3m/s |
| 16:00 | 979hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 59% | 45° | 53% | 11m/s | 8.1m/s |
| 17:00 | 979hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 62% | 37° | 5% | 11m/s | 8m/s |
| 18:00 | 979hPa | 2% | 0% | 0% | 65% | 28° | 5% | 10m/s | 7.5m/s |
| 19:00 | 980hPa | 0% | 0% | 0% | 70% | 19° | 5% | 9.8m/s | 6.4m/s |
| 20:00 | 980hPa | 5% | 0% | 0% | 74% | 11° | 5% | 9.6m/s | 5.8m/s |
| 21:00 | 981hPa | 5% | 5% | 0% | 80% | 3.2° | 5% | 9.1m/s | 4.4m/s |
| 22:00 ☾ | 981hPa | 84% | 5% | 0% | 91% | -3.6° | 84% | 8.3m/s | 3.1m/s |
| 23:00 ☾ | 982hPa | 59% | 6% | 10% | 92% | -8.9° | 59% | 9m/s | 3m/s |
| Thu, Jun 11
Sunrise 04:40
Sunset 21:32 | |||||||||
| 24:00 ☾ | 981hPa | 100% | 5% | 20% | 94% | -12° | 100% | 8.5m/s | 2.9m/s |
| 01:00 ☾ | 981hPa | 100% | 99% | 30% | 95% | -14° | 100% | 8.3m/s | 2.9m/s |
| 02:00 ☾ | 987hPa | 100% | 99% | 36% | 95% | -13° | 100% | 8.5m/s | 3.2m/s |
| 03:00 ☾ | 992hPa | 100% | 98% | 42% | 94% | -9.7° | 100% | 8.7m/s | 3.5m/s |
| 04:00 ☾ | 998hPa | 100% | 97% | 48% | 94% | -4.8° | 100% | 8.9m/s | 3.8m/s |
| 05:00 | 997hPa | 100% | 98% | 55% | 95% | 1.8° | 100% | 9.9m/s | 4.1m/s |
| 06:00 | 997hPa | 100% | 99% | 61% | 95% | 9.2° | 100% | 11m/s | 4.4m/s |
| 07:00 | 996hPa | 100% | 100% | 67% | 96% | 17° | 100% | 12m/s | 4.7m/s |
| 08:00 | 996hPa | 100% | 100% | 60% | 95% | 26° | 100% | 12m/s | 4.6m/s |
| 09:00 | 995hPa | 100% | 100% | 52% | 94% | 35° | 100% | 11m/s | 4.4m/s |
| 10:00 | 995hPa | 100% | 100% | 44% | 93% | 44° | 100% | 11m/s | 4.3m/s |
| 11:00 | 995hPa | 100% | 100% | 54% | 93% | 52° | 100% | 12m/s | 5m/s |
| 12:00 | 995hPa | 100% | 100% | 63% | 93% | 57° | 100% | 12m/s | 5.7m/s |
| 13:00 | 995hPa | 100% | 100% | 73% | 93% | 60° | 100% | 13m/s | 6.4m/s |
| 14:00 | 996hPa | 100% | 100% | 58% | 92% | 58° | 100% | 13m/s | 6.3m/s |
| 15:00 | 996hPa | 100% | 100% | 43% | 92% | 53° | 100% | 13m/s | 6.2m/s |
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